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To configure a default printer for use by your new employees, set up the registry -- a hierarchical database that controls the appearance and settings of Microsoft Windows -- on their workstations. A hive -- a branch of the registry -- called Ntuser.dat contains data that administrators can modify to configure defined settings for default user profiles. You can edit Ntuser.dat to instruct Windows to assign a specific printer for use with new accounts.

1.

Click "Start," and then enter "regedit" or "regedit.exe" into the search field.

2.

Highlight "regedit" or "regedit.exe" from the search results, and then press "Ctrl-Shift-Enter" to open the program as an administrator.

Follow the same process in the previous steps to create a new value with the name of the printer and enter the appropriate information from Step 17.

21.

Select "HKEY_CURRENT_USER," and then click "Printers" from the left pane. Write down all the values and data displayed in the right pane.

22.

Return to "NTUSER." Right-click the left pane, point to "New," and then click "Key." Name the key "Printers."

23.

Open the Printers key, and then recreate all of the values found in Step 20. Return to "NTUSER," click "File," and then select "Unload Hive."

Tip

If Ntuser.dat does not appear in the list of files, click "Start," then "Computer" to open Windows Explorer. Click "Tools," "Folder Options," then "View." Deselect "Hide Protected Operating System Files (Recommended)," and then click "OK."

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About the Author

Ruri Ranbe has been working as a writer since 2008. She received an A.A. in English literature from Valencia College and is completing a B.S. in computer science at the University of Central Florida. Ranbe also has more than six years of professional information-technology experience, specializing in computer architecture, operating systems, networking, server administration, virtualization and Web design.

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Ranbe, Ruri. "How to Add a Default Printer for All New Users." Small Business - Chron.com, http://smallbusiness.chron.com/add-default-printer-new-users-57113.html. Accessed 25 May 2019.

Ranbe, Ruri. (n.d.). How to Add a Default Printer for All New Users. Small Business - Chron.com. Retrieved from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/add-default-printer-new-users-57113.html

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